Why they can: They have a lot of good, young talent, but the reason they can take the next step is quarterback Chad Henne. As a first-time starter last season, Henne came on as the season moved along. He has a chance to be a playoff-type quarterback for a long time.

What they must fix: They need to get him a big-play receiver. It's clear that Ted Ginn is really a No. 2 receiver at best, so they have to find one this offseason. Maybe they make a run at Miles Austin or Vincent Jackson as restricted free agents or they draft one in this first round, which is usually not Bill Parcells' style.

Player who must step up: Henne. The Wildcat offense will fall away as Henne continues to develop. I think he has a chance to be a really good one. He just needs more freedom from the coaches on early downs.

Pete Prisco wrote:

The Saints' formula for going from non-playoff team to a Super Bowl winner was essentially this:

Good quarterback + aggressive coach + young players ready to take the next step + a defense that can pressure the quarterback when the team is ahead = rings.

What teams have a chance to follow that formula in 2010, using it to go from a non-playoff team to a possible Super Bowl winner?

He does take risks, particularly going for it on 4th down (not to mention green lighting the Wildcat which is now copied by virtually every team in one way or another). He may not be a throw 4 times on 4 downs kind of coach, but he is aggressive.

_________________A good RB is nice, a good QB even better, but it's best to be able to stop someone first.

He does take risks, particularly going for it on 4th down (not to mention green lighting the Wildcat which is now copied by virtually every team in one way or another). He may not be a throw 4 times on 4 downs kind of coach, but he is aggressive.

He does take risks, particularly going for it on 4th down (not to mention green lighting the Wildcat which is now copied by virtually every team in one way or another). He may not be a throw 4 times on 4 downs kind of coach, but he is aggressive.

my memory might be failing me, but I don't recall him going for it on 4th down very often.

He does take risks, particularly going for it on 4th down (not to mention green lighting the Wildcat which is now copied by virtually every team in one way or another). He may not be a throw 4 times on 4 downs kind of coach, but he is aggressive.

my memory might be failing me, but I don't recall him going for it on 4th down very often.

We went for it enough to have a FB who made his name by doing it. It's definitely not an every 4th down ind of thing, but it happens often enough.

Aggressive coaching and aggressive philosophy are different IMO. While I wouldn't argue that we have a highly aggressive philosophy, on game day our coach will take risks. Some of them pay, others don't.

_________________A good RB is nice, a good QB even better, but it's best to be able to stop someone first.

I don't think we did, but I could be wrong. On gameday I think our coach played it safe consistently. Which is part of the reason games were close regardless if we were playing the Saints or the Bucs. I would like to know of all these risks that Sparano has taken if you woudn't mind filling me in.